Apparatus and method for packaging a plurality of articles

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for automatically stacking a plurality of articles one on another, moving the stacked articles, covering the stacked articles with film, and heating the film covering the stacked articles thereby forming the plurality of articles into a package.

United States Patent Inventor Herman Pesch Kansas City, Mo.

Oct. 2, 1969 June 22, 1971 Phillips Petroleum Company Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee APPARATUS AN D METHOD FOR PACKAGING A PLURALII'Y 01- ARTICLES 10 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

08. Cl. 53/26, 53/30, 53/162, 53/184, 53/229, 53/157 Int. Cl ..i;65b 35 50, B651) 53/06 Fkld oiscarch 53/26, 30,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,928,217 3/1960 Case et a1. 53/33 X 3,469,368 9/1969 Churchill et al. 53/229 3,481,107 12/1969 Andblad et a1. 53/229 X 3,507,089 4/1970 Mizfille et a1. 53/159 X 3,513,622 5/1970 Timmerbeil 53/184 X Primary Examiner-Thebon E. Concon Assistant Examiner Robert L. Spruill Attorney-Young and Quigg ABSTRACT: A method and apparatus for automatically stacking a plurality of articles one on another, moving the stacked articles, covering the stacked articles with film, and

heating the film covering the stacked articles thereby forming the plurality of articles into a package.

PATENTEU JUN22 IQYI 3,5851??? sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. H ERMAN PES CH BY X,

A T TORNEYS PATENTEUJUNZZIBH 3585777 sum 2 0F 2 illll m W ML 2 l T INVENTOR.

' HERMAN PESCH A TTORNEYS APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING A ILURALITY F ARTICLES This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles. In another aspect, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for packaging a plurality of stacked articles.

In heretofore used apparatus and methods for packaging a plurality of small boxes, and the like, the prestacked articles were either completely wrapped with material covering all sides of the stack, or arranged in a large box whose top was thereafter sealed. Covering all sides of the stacked articles in order to assure a tight seal utilized a great deal of movable, costly equipment, power, and maintenance. Later, quicksealable plastic films were utilized to decrease the time and equipment needed to satisfactorily seal the ends of the wrapping. In these heretofore used plastic sealing methods and apparatus, the plastic film was drawn across the articles or the stacked articles were rotated in contact with the film sheet to cover four sides of the stack. The equipment elements thereafter folded and sealed the ends of the stack. The equipment elements thereafter folded and sealed the ends of the plastic wrapping material. Where plastic film ismoved over and in contact with the article to be wrapped, said film is often torn or weakened. The resultant package may therefore be of a less than desirable quality. Rotation of the stacked articles in order to initially cover the sidewalls of the stacked articles required a great deal of movable, costly machinery in order to maintain the plurality of articles in a uniform position during rotation. The wrapping material may be often damaged during removal of the rotating equipment prior to sealing the package ends.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles. Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles whereby the wrapping material is not moved relative to the articles while in contact with said articles being wrapped. Yet another object of this invention is providing a method and apparatus of the above-described type wherein the articles to be wrapped are not rotated during the wrapping operations. A further object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus of the above-described type wherein the equipment and materials for wrapping the ends of the package are avoided.

Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the disclosure, the appended claims, and the drawing.

In the drawing, FIG. I shows a front view in partial cross section of the apparatus of this invention. FIG. 2 is a partial view, at a different stage of operation, of the apparatus showing FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a side view of a portion .of the apparatus showing FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, articles 2 positioned on conveying means 4 are intermittently discharged by a counteractuator 6 from a conveying means 4 to a position above a top III of a stacking table 12. The plurality of articles 2 are here shown to discharge from the conveying means 4 in series of 112 articles forming a layer 4 articles long and 3 articles wide. It should be pointed out that the number of articles discharged by the counteractuator 6 can be regulated to intennittently discharge any number of articles. The length and width of the layer of discharged articles is limited by the width and length of the top 10 of the stacking table 12 and the width of the conveying means 4, but said elements can be constructed to conform to the desires of the operator and the selection of an article layer 3 articles wide and 4 articles long is only for example purposes.

The top 10 of the stacking table 12 is substantially vertically movable relative to the discharge end of the conveying means 4. During article stacking operations, the top 10 is intermittently moved downwardly by a power means 14 actuated in response to a signal received by the actuator I6 of said power means 14. A divider-retainer reservoir I is located in the vicinity of the stacking table 12 preferably at a higher elevation than said table. The power means l7, having a vacuum cup I9, is mounted above the reservoir 15 and movable on track-21 from a first position (shown by broken line in FIG. 3) above said reservoir to a second position (shown by solid line in FIG. 3) above the top of the stacking table 12. The vacuum cup 19 is vertically movable and operated by the associated power means 17 for intermittently removing an individual divider-retainer from the reservoir and attaching said divider-retainer to the top of a layer of stacked articles that are to be subsequently covered with an additional layer of articles. After the desired number of layers of articles have been stacked on the top 10, actuator 16 causes the power means 14 to move the top 10 of the stacking table 12 and the stacked articles resting thereupon upwardly to an article discharging position at which the upper surface 18 of the top 10 substantially at the same elevation as an upper surface 20 of adjacent packaging structure 22.

A continuous sheet of film, such as l'k-mil polyvinyl chloride which has been biaxially oriented, and the like, having a width greater than the length of the stack of articles to be packaged, issues from a pair of adjacent film reservoirs 24, 26 and is mutually joined (more fully described later) thereby forming a vertically extending film curtain 28 having first and second surfaces 29 and 30, said first curtain surface 29 adjacent a first side 31 of the article stack 32 (better viewed in FIG. 2) as the top 10 supporting said article stack 32 is in the article discharging position. A. pusher 34, such as an air cylinder or the like, is positioned adjacent the article stack 32. The pusher 34 has a pusher plate 38 movable relative to the top 10 of the stacking table 12 between a retracted position (shown) adjacent second side 36 of the article stack 32 and in an extended position (better viewed in FIG. 2) at which the plate 38 and stacked articles are laterally substantially horizontally spaced from the top 10 of the stacking table 12, the article stack 32 is resting upon the packaging structure 22 and the film issued from the first and second film reservoirs 24, 26 in response to movement of the article stack 32 against said film curtain 28 is covering the bottom 40, top 42, and the first side 31 of the article stack 32. A power means 43 having a wiper-roller 44 is positioned adjacent the top 42 of the article stack 32 resting on the packaging structure. The wiper-roller 44 is movable by the power means 43 from a first retracted position (shown) to an extended position (better viewed in FIG. 2) during which movement the wiper-roller moves across the film sheet covering the top 42 of the article stack 32 and urges said film against the said article stack to prevent movement of the film relative to said article stack 32. A sealercutter 45 having heating and cutting elements 46, 48 is positioned adjacent the second surface 30 of the film curtain 28. The heating and cutting elements 46, 48 are longitudinal and extend across the entire width of the film curtain 28. A power means 50 is attached to the heating and cutting elements 46, 48 for movement of said elements from a retracted position (shown) to an extended position at which two portions of the film curtain are in forcible contact between the heating and cutting elements 46, 48 and the packaging structure 22.

Separate rollers 52 are preferably attached to the sealer-cutter 45 and one edge of the packaging structure 22 and in contact with separate portions of the film curtain 28 for facilitating the movement of film from the film reservoirs 24, 26 and protecting the film from damage during said movement. A conveying means 54 is positioned adjacent at substantially the same elevation as the packaging structure 22 on a side of the packaging structure opposed to the side at which the article stack 32 is pushed onto said structure. The conveying means 54 extends from adjacent the packaging structure 22, through a heating zone 56 into a package-receiving station (not shown). It is preferred that the heating zone be a thermostatically controlled oven having a passageway for the continuous movement of the covered package on the conveying means therethrough and the heating of the covering film therewithin.

FIG. 2 shows the pusher plate 38 in the extended position in which the article stack 32 has been moved from the top 10 of the stacking table 12 and is resting upon the packaging structure 22 and the film sheet has covered the bottom 40, top 42, and the first side 31 of the article stack 32. The broken line represents the position of the film sheet during sealing and cutting by the sealer-cutter 45.

12 at the article-discharging position, delivers a signal to actuator 58. Actuator 58, in response to the signal received from the actuator 8, actuates pusher 34. Pusher 34 extends to move the pusher plate 38 and the article stack 32 through the film 3 is 3 side f Portion of FIG 1 which Shows the 5 curtain 28 to the packaging structure 22. The lateral, nonl relative P E y g means 4, slacking rotating movement of the article stack 32 causes film to issue table 12. reservoir 15, Power "188118 17, and from the pair of film reservoirs 24, 26, and film to cover the track 21. bottom 40, top 42, and first side 31 of the article stack 32. At

It Preferred this invention Power mans 17, the extended position of the pusher plate 38, a signal is sent by and and Pusher 34 be cylmders for Smooth Operation 10 actuator 58 to actuator 61 and, at the retracted position of the and y adlustmem- The strucml'al elemems drive" l pusher plate 38, a signal is sent by actuator 58 to actuator 60 power means can however be moved in accordance with this and mvmmn y Olhef Power 'F sflch metric with Actuator 61, in response to the signal received from actua- S and chain drives, hydraulic cylinders, and l llketor 58, energizes power means 43 to extend and move the as- Acwawl and 61 are associated Wlth sociated roller 44 over the film covering the top 42 of the artir p i Power means to p r said power means cle stack 32. Actuator 60, in response to the signal received re p to a r i g l n li a gnal to other from actuator 58, energizes power source 50 and associated tuators. it should be understood that the signals can be either cutting d h i l ments 48, 46. The cutting and heating fluid, electrical, mechamcal, and 88 8 means ihe 20 elements 48, 46 are moved downwardly thereby covering the mechanisms can be by various apparatus such as weight-sensisecond side 36 of the article stack 32, cutting a portion of the balances, P arms, Cowling means, and the k II is film sheet within the sealed portion to sever the package and preferred, however, that the actuators, signals, and triggering seal the article stack from the sealed together film sheets issumechanism be associated as follows: ing from the reservoirs 24, 26 and thereafterrnove upwardly EXAMPLE Receives Sends Isignal Response to received signal signal Triggering arrangement causing signal to be sent romto Actuator:

16 Count reaches a full layer. 6 58 Starts counting, counts and releases three layers of articles 69 Number reached by counter at the completion of each first and second layer. 16.... 6 Activates power means 14 to lower one increment for first and Number reached by cou ter at th completlon second layer and raise two positions at completion of third first, second, and third layer.

ayer. 59 6 Activates vacuum cup 19 and power means 17 to place divider- Number reached by counter at completion of retainer. first and second layer. 8 Completes circuit 58 Table top 10 arrival at artl le'dls h g P tion. 58.. 8 Activates power means 34 to extend pushing article stack 60 and 6... Return of pusher plate 38 from xt to through curtain and retract to original position. retracted position.

61 Arrival of pusher plate 38 at extended position. 61 58 Actfivatis power means 43 to extend and roll film against top 60 Power means 43 reaches its fully extended 9 0 pac age. sition. 60 58 Activates power means 50 and elements 46, 48 to double seal 61 Arrival ofcuttersealer elements 46, 48 at retracted him and cut between seals. position.

As previously stated, a study of the example will indicate that the various power means can be actuated by signals received from other actuators and different types of actuators without departing from the invention.

In the operation of this invention, the top 10 of the stacking table 12 is empty and at the article-discharging position, and the pusher 38 is in the retracted position. Counteractuator 6 passes one layer of articles from conveying means 4 onto the top 10 of the stacking table 12 and delivers a signal to actuators l6 and 59. Actuator 16, in response to the signal received from counteractuator 6, causes the power means 14 to retract and move the top 10 of the table 12 downwardly a first increment that is a distance substantially the height of the articles being stacked. Actuator 58, in response to the signal received from counteractuator 6, actuates vacuum cup 19 and power means 17 to remove one divider-retainer from the dividerretainer reservoir 15 and attach said divider-retainer to the top of the first layer of articles positioned above the top 10 of the stacking table 12. The above-described cycle is thereafter repeated. Actuator 49, in response to the second Signal received from the actuator-counter 6, deposits the second divider-retainer and thereafter remains idle until stacking of a new first layer of articles is begun.

After attachment of the second retainer-divider, a third and final layer for example is passed by the counteractuator 6 onto the top of the stacked articles, a signal is thereafter delivered to actuator 16V to actuate power means 14, and move upwardly the top 10 of'the stacking table 12 and the articles stacked resting thereon to the article-discharging position adjacent to actuator 8, counteractuator 6 then remains idle until a new stacking cycle is initiated.

Actuator 8, upon arrival of the top 10 of the stacking table to the retracted position. The seal and out can be made in this invention by double sealing traversely across the film sheet and cutting and severing the film between the two traverse sealed portions or by single sealing traversely across the film sheet and cutting the film within the seal. Actuator 6, in response to the signal received from actuator 58, counts and passes a new first layer of articles onto the top 10 of the stacking table 12.

Arrival of the heating-cutting elements 46, 48 at the retracted position causes a signal to be sent to actuator Actuator 61, in response to that received signal, causes the power means 43 to retract and return the associated wiperroller 44 to the retracted position.

Movement of a second article stack 32 from the top 10 of the stacking table 12 urges the prior film covered and sealed article stack onto the conveying means 54. The prior packaged article is moved by the conveying means 54 through heating zone 56, wherein the film covering is heated and to a package receiving station not shown. Heating the film covering shrinks and tightly covers the first and second sides 31, 36 and the bottom and top 40, 42 of the article stack 32, thereby maintaining in close compact relationship the plurality of articles forming the article stack 32.

Further modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion, example, and accompanying drawing, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

That which I claim is:

1. An apparatus for automatically packaging a plurality of articles, comprising:

a stacking table having a top for holding articles, said top top of the stacking table between a retracted position at which the plate is adjacent the stacked articles and an extended position at which the plate and stacked articles are laterally spaced from the top of the stacking table, said pusher being actuated to extend and retract as the top of the stacking table having articles stacked thereupon is loca ed in the article-discharging position;

means for covering four sides of the stacked articles with a film sheet;

means for sealing the film sheet around the four sides of the stacked articles and traversely severing, between sealed portions of the film, the covered articles from the continuous film sheet; and

heating means for heating and shrinking the film surrounding the articles.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for covering four sides of the stacked articles with a film sheet comprises two adjacent film reservoirs laterally spaced from each side of the stacked articles for issuing film and covering with said film three sides of the stacked articles in response to movement of the stacked articles by the pusher and a longitudinal sealer-cutter movable between a first position adjacent and laterally spaced from the side of the stacked articles uncovered by film and separated from said stacked articles by film issuing from one of the film reservoirs to a second position at which film is drawn over the uncovered side of the stacked articles in response to movement of the sealer-cutter in contact therewith.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for sealing the film sheet around the stacked articles and traversely severing, between sealed portions of the film, the

film covered articles from the continuous film sheet comprises a longitudinal sealer-cutter having electrical heating and cutting elements.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for intermittently attaching the divider-retainers comprises a movable suction cup.

5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim I, wherein the heating means for heating and shrinking the film surrounding articles comprises:

an oven having a passageway formed therethrough and a conveying means extending through the passageway of said oven for movement of packaged articles therethrough.

6. A method for automatically packaging a plurality of articles, comprising:

stacking a plurality of articles one upon another above a movable surface during downward movement of said surface;

attaching divider-retainers to at least two articles of a portion of the layers of articles during downward movement of said surface;

moving the stacked articles upwardly;

displacing the stacked articles laterally from the movable surface to a location spaced from said movable surface; covering four sides of the stacked article with a film sheet; sealing the film sheet; and

heating and shrinking the film sheet covering said stacked articles.

7. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein dividerretainers are attached to the lower layer of articles between adjacent layers of the stacked articles.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein three sides of the stacked articles are covered with a film sheet during displacement of the stacked articles from the movable surface.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the film covered packages are heated and shrunk by moving the film covered package through an oven.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the film sheet is sealed by heating portions of the film sheet covering a plurality of stacked articles. 

1. An apparatus for automatically packaging a plurality of articles, comprising: a stacking table having a top for holding articles, said top downwardly movable for stacking a plurality of articles one on another aNd upwardly movable to an article-discharging position; means for stacking a plurality of articles one on another above the top of the stacking table during downward movement of said top; means for intermittently attaching divider-retainers to at least two articles of a portion of the layers of articles during downward movement of the top of the stacking table; a power means having a pusher plate movable relative to the top of the stacking table between a retracted position at which the plate is adjacent the stacked articles and an extended position at which the plate and stacked articles are laterally spaced from the top of the stacking table, said pusher being actuated to extend and retract as the top of the stacking table having articles stacked thereupon is located in the articledischarging position; means for covering four sides of the stacked articles with a film sheet; means for sealing the film sheet around the four sides of the stacked articles and traversely severing, between sealed portions of the film, the covered articles from the continuous film sheet; and heating means for heating and shrinking the film surrounding the articles.
 2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for covering four sides of the stacked articles with a film sheet comprises two adjacent film reservoirs laterally spaced from each side of the stacked articles for issuing film and covering with said film three sides of the stacked articles in response to movement of the stacked articles by the pusher and a longitudinal sealer-cutter movable between a first position adjacent and laterally spaced from the side of the stacked articles uncovered by film and separated from said stacked articles by film issuing from one of the film reservoirs to a second position at which film is drawn over the uncovered side of the stacked articles in response to movement of the sealer-cutter in contact therewith.
 3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for sealing the film sheet around the stacked articles and traversely severing, between sealed portions of the film, the film covered articles from the continuous film sheet comprises a longitudinal sealer-cutter having electrical heating and cutting elements.
 4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the means for intermittently attaching the divider-retainers comprises a movable suction cup.
 5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the heating means for heating and shrinking the film surrounding articles comprises: an oven having a passageway formed therethrough and a conveying means extending through the passageway of said oven for movement of packaged articles therethrough.
 6. A method for automatically packaging a plurality of articles, comprising: stacking a plurality of articles one upon another above a movable surface during downward movement of said surface; attaching divider-retainers to at least two articles of a portion of the layers of articles during downward movement of said surface; moving the stacked articles upwardly; displacing the stacked articles laterally from the movable surface to a location spaced from said movable surface; covering four sides of the stacked article with a film sheet; sealing the film sheet; and heating and shrinking the film sheet covering said stacked articles.
 7. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein divider-retainers are attached to the lower layer of articles between adjacent layers of the stacked articles.
 8. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein three sides of the stacked articles are covered with a film sheet during displacement of the stacked articles from the movable surface.
 9. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the film covered packages are heated and shrunk by moving the film covered package through an oven.
 10. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the film sheet is sealed by heating portions of the film sheet covering a plurality of stacked arTicles. 